The U.S. DOE and USDA jointly announced up to $33 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products, subject to annual appropriations. These projects will support the Obama Administration's comprehensive energy strategy of increasing the nation's energy, economic and national security by reducing our reliance on foreign oil and reducing greenhouse gases.READ MORE

Chromatin Inc. will use its expanding technology portfolio to optimize fit-for-purpose sorghum for use in biofuels, biopower and renewable chemicals. Through compositional screen analysis, marker assisted breeding and gene stacking technologies, the company will deploy proprietary feedstocks near term and ultimately optimize sorghum for specific bioprocessors' needs, according to the company.READ MORE

The American Power Act, which was rolled out May 12 by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., calls for a review of the definition of renewable biomass and provides for studies into the current and future impacts of biomass combustion and production of biomass-derived gas or liquid fuels.READ MORE

Dissolving cellulosic biomass in nonvolatile and recyclable solvent ionic liquids results in more sugars needed for biofuel production than using traditional acid catalyst extraction, as discovered by two Colorado State University researchers. Not only that, but the reaction is carried out more quickly.READ MORE

Just a few months after New Zealand-based Aquaflow Bionomic signed on to work with Honeywell's UOP for a U.S. DOE-funded project, the company has partnered with the U.S. Gas Technology Institute for an additional DOE-funded project.READ MORE

The U.S. EPA has released a set of proposed changes to the Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule that would reduce mercury emissions from industrial boilers, process heaters and solid waste incinerators by more than 50 percent.READ MORE

A bill [AB 222] which would serve to expedite the introduction of new conversion technologies to produce advanced biofuels and/or green power from organic waste materials in California has recently gained support from three powerful state regulatory agencies. However, without the approval of at least two Democrats on the Senate on Environmental Quality Committee (SEQC), AB 222 will not reach the Senate floor and will die at the year's end, allowing many bioenergy growth barriers to remain in place.READ MORE

Proponents behind the initiative that would limit clean energy development in Massachusetts have no option now but to push for its inclusion on the November ballot, after the State Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy decided May 7 not to make the initiative's language law.READ MORE